[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 84 (Wednesday, June 28, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1133]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     REGARDING THE KOREAN-AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF GREATER NEW YORK

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GARY L. ACKERMAN

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 27, 2000

  Mr. ACKERMAN. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to bring to the House's 
attention the 40th anniversary of the Korean-American Association of 
Greater New York, a community institution representing the interests, 
hopes and dreams of thousands of Korean-Americans. Mr. Speaker, the 
Korean-American community in New York epitomizes the American dream.
  Decades ago, thousands of immigrants, fleeing from war, poverty and 
desolation came to our nation's gateway of opportunity: New York City. 
Without knowing the language, without great wealth, but with strong 
family ties, robust community support and countless hours of hard work, 
Korean-Americans, like waves of immigrants before them have taken root 
and thrived in America.
  Critical to their success was their ability to organize themselves 
for mutual support and assistance. At the heart of the Korean-American 
community's efforts were organizations like the Korean-American 
Association of Greater New York. Beginning in 1960, the Korean-American 
Association of Greater New York has helped Korean immigrants in 
learning English, organizing themselves within the blue-collar 
industries where they were able to find work, registering to vote, and 
developing youth and government outreach programs.
  Now, as is obvious to anyone who travels in the New York metropolitan 
area, second generation Korean-Americans have moved into every branch 
and comer of American life and have succeeded beyond the wildest 
expectations of their ancestors, who came to this country with so 
little in tangible goods, but with a wealth of determination and 
perseverance.
  As we recalled so recently, on the anniversary of the Korean War, 
Korea and the United States are joined inseparably by a bond of 
allegiance formed in war and bound in the blood of the fallen soldiers 
of both nations. Similarly, Korean-Americans, whose presence here in 
the United States is tied with the great tragedy of that war, remember 
the great sorrow of the war for Korea together with an immeasurable 
appreciation for their adopted homeland. The courage and loyalty of the 
American soldier in answering the Republic of Korea in its hour of need 
is now matched by the devotion of Korean-Americans to this nation.
  Just as the Republic of Korea and its relations with the United 
States have flourished and grown stronger in the years since the war, 
so too the Korean-American community has prospered and given back to 
this nation double what they have received. Nowhere is this fact more 
obvious than in New York.
  I am honored, therefore, to pay tribute in this House to the Korean-
American Association of Greater New York and its president, Sie Jong 
Lee, for their critical role in the success of the Korean-American 
community. I would also like to recognize all the current officers of 
the Association, Yong Sang Yoon, Jeong Ho Kim, Bok Ja Chang, Heon Gae 
Lee, Jay Joonseok Oh, Piljae Im, Hyun Woo Han, Myung Sook Chun, Daehong 
Kim, Mi Kyung Choi, Young-Joo Rhee, and Bo Young Jung, and to wish them 
all the best of success in the decades to come.

                          ____________________